About

The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Academic Building will be the first academic building of App State’s Innovation District, located at the site of the former Broyhill Inn and Conference Center on Bodenheimer Drive.

Paired with the adjacent Nature Preserve, the facility will advance knowledge surrounding the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachian region, allowing the App State Community and visitors to:

• understand the natural history and economic importance of our region’s biodiversity; and
• gain a heightened appreciation of the research and creative endeavors being conducted at App State.

The approximately 50,000-square-foot facility will have up to four different climate zones in its conservatory portion, as well as a full suite of biology laboratories, classroom space and large event spaces, with adjacent public and research gardens designed to showcase the biodiversity of regional flora.

Additionally, the STEM Academic Building will be among the nation’s first academic research facilities built to the rigorous sustainability standards of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) — meaning the building must generate more energy than it uses and be made of materials that are healthy for the environment, with all water captured and treated on site.

The facility will build on existing opportunities available through the Department of Biology’s teaching and research facilities.

A conceptual rendering of what the STEM Academic Building at App State might look like once completed. Note, designs for the facility (formerly referred to as the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research) are still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

This artist’s rendering presents a view of the STEM Academic Building from one of the gardens planned for the facility’s home, App State’s Innovation District. Note, designs for the building (formerly referred to as the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research) are still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

A view of the STEM Academic Building from the entrance of the Innovation District, as shown in this artist’s rendering. Note, designs for the facility (formerly referred to as the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research) are still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

This artist’s rendering shows an interior view of the STEM Academic Building — the first academic facility of App State’s Innovation District. Note, designs for the building (formerly referred to as the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research) are still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

An interior view of what App State's STEM Academic Building could look like once construction of the facility is completed, as depicted in this artist's rendering. Note, designs for the building (formerly referred to as the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research) are still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

Status

App State’s targeted opening date for the STEM Academic Building is 2026, and the university will soon begin construction of the facility. Construction for the Innovation District's first phase of development began in late July 2023, with the installation of erosion control fences and the removal of trees.

Underground utilities (water, sewer, stormwater and fiber-optic cable systems) have been installed across the Innovation District site, and a retaining wall has been completed near the site of the district’s housing. Vertical construction is underway for the multistory buildings that will house App State faculty/staff.

Additionally, internal piping, electrical and HVAC work continues for the building that will serve as a control center for the district’s zero-carbon energy system — currently referred to as the District Energy System (DES) Building. Workers have installed the building’s external viewing window, as well as two new wind turbines that are part of the district’s zero-carbon energy system.

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the first development phase of the Innovation District, which includes the conservatory, was held March 25, 2022.

App State hired architectural engineering firm Clark Nexsen to conduct a feasibility study for the STEM Academic Building, and the firm presented its report on Jan. 30, 2019 — after weeks of meeting with a variety of stakeholders to determine the best mix of gardens, conservatory, labs and meeting space. The report was reviewed by university leaders, and App State has selected Radnor Property Group LLC (Radnor) to manage the facility's design and construction.

Architecture firm Lord Aeck Sargent is the university’s selected designer for the STEM Academic Building, and Muter Construction and Greene Construction are serving as joint venture partners for the facility’s construction. The University of North Carolina System Board of Governors approved the pre-development letter of intent for the district’s first phase in July 2022. This agreement with Radnor will allow App State to deliver phase one of the Innovation District as quickly and efficiently as possible. Academic programming for the facility was determined in spring 2022.

This photo, taken in December 2024, shows construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District. This housing is part of the district’s Phase 1 development. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

A front view of the District Energy System Building, which is under construction as part of Phase 1 development at App State’s Innovation District. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

An aerial view of construction progress for the faculty and staff housing facilities at App State’s Innovation District, as of Nov. 18, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction work for one of two new wind turbines at App State’s Innovation District is shown in this aerial image, taken Nov. 18, 2024. The turbines are part of the zero-carbon energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities with solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. App State’s Jim and Bettie Smith Baseball Stadium is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Two new wind turbines are being installed at App State’s Innovation District, as part of the district’s zero-carbon energy system. This image offers a close-up view of one of the turbine bases. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities Operations

This aerial view shows construction progress for the first development phase at App State’s Innovation District, as of Nov. 18, 2024. Vertical construction of the district’s faculty and staff housing facilities is visible at center. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Installation of two new wind turbines has begun at App State’s Innovation District, as shown in this aerial photo, taken Nov. 18, 2024. The turbines are part of the zero-carbon energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities with solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. The existing wind turbine located at App State’s Innovation District is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Pictured Nov. 20, 2024, workers assemble one of two new wind turbines at App State’s Innovation District. The turbines are part of the zero-carbon energy system that, once completed, will power the district’s facilities. The system will feature solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies. Photo by Troy Tuttle

A worker, left, is pictured next to the rotor blades of one of two new wind turbines that are being installed at the App State Innovation District, as part of the district’s zero-carbon energy system. The system, once completed, will feature solar, wind and geothermal renewable energy technologies that will power the district’s facilities. Photo by Troy Tuttle

Vertical construction is underway for the Phase 1 faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District site, as shown in this Sept. 10, 2024 photo. Photo by Wes Craig

A street-level view of the construction that is underway for Phase 1 faculty and staff housing at App State's Innovation District. This image was taken Sept. 11, 2024. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities and Operations

An aerial view of the Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig

This image, taken Sept. 11, 2024, shows the interior work taking place for the District Energy System Building at App State's Innovation District. Photo courtesy of App State Facilities and Operations

An aerial view of Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of Aug. 13, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig

Foundation work for the multistory buildings that will house App State faculty/staff at the university's Innovation District — part of the district's Phase 1 development — is shown in this July 2024 aerial photo. Photo submitted

This panoramic photo, taken July 15, 2024, shows the construction progress for the first phase of development at App State's Innovation District. The control building for the district’s zero-carbon energy system, which is under construction as part of Phase 1 development, is visible near the top center of the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Phase 1 construction work at App State's Innovation District progresses on schedule, as shown in this aerial image taken June 19, 2024. The control building for the district’s zero-carbon energy system — part of the district's first development phase — is shown at right in the image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of the Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of June 19, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction work is underway for the Innovation District's energy system control building, as shown in this June 19, 2024, photo. Workers are pictured installing roofing panels to the building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken May 16, 2024. The steel structural frame for the district's energy system control building is visible at right. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of the Phase 1 construction work taking place at App State's Innovation District, located at the top of Bodenheimer Drive on the Boone campus. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

The structural steel frame is in place for the control building for the district’s zero-carbon energy system, as shown in this May, 16, 2024, photo. Work to apply the exterior of the building will soon begin. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Workers are shown installing framing for the energy system control building at App State’s Innovation District in this photo, taken April 25, 2024. Appalachian State University photo

Construction is underway for the zero-carbon energy system control building at App State's Innovation District, as shown in this aerial photo, taken April 23, 2024. The foundation for the building has been set, and workers are pictured installing underground utilities for the building. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction progress for the first phase of development at App State's Innovation District is shown in this aerial photo, taken April 23, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

A panoramic view of Phase 1 construction progress at App State's Innovation District, as of March 12, 2024. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Phase 1 construction progress at App State’s Innovation District, as of Jan. 30, 2024. Recent construction work at the site includes the drilling of geothermal wells, which is nearly 90% complete, as well as the installation of site utilities. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

The construction progress on Phase 1 of App State's Innovation District, as of Nov. 30, 2023. The STEM Academic Building, faculty and staff housing and zero-carbon district energy system are all Phase 1 components of the project. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

Construction work for Phase 1 development at App State's Innovation District site began in late July 2023 with the installation of erosion control fences and the removal of trees, as shown in this aerial image. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds

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This image shows the potential layout for the first floor of App State’s STEM Academic Building, which includes a mix of classroom, office, laboratory and greenhouse space, in addition to the facility’s conservatory space. Note, this image does not reflect the finalized layout design for the building (formerly referred to as the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research), which is still in development. Graphic courtesy of Lord Aeck Sargent

How is it funded?

Expenses for the STEM Academic Building feasibility study completed by Clark Nexsen were paid with state funds through App State’s Division of Academic Affairs.

Funding allocated to App State by the North Carolina General Assembly as part of the FY 2021–22 biennial budget bill, signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper on Nov. 18, 2021, allows the university to begin work on the facility. The budget includes $79 million for capital projects — including $54 million in non-recurring funds to begin work on the Innovation District — and $43.15 million for one-time repair and renovation project support.

At its March 24, 2023, meeting, App State’s Board of Trustees authorized an additional $7.5 million in funding for the STEM Academic Building project, which was approved by the UNC System Board of Governors during the board’s April 2023 meeting. The Board of Governors approved nearly $2 million in additional funding for the facility at its July 24, 2024 meeting, bringing the total current funding for the project to $65.3 million. This funding is supported by the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund, as well as App State carry forward and trust funds.

Who will benefit?

Students in App State’s College of Arts and Sciences and their faculty mentors will use the facility's state-of-the art research space for basic and applied research. Visitors, including K-12 students and community members, will benefit from the scientific exhibits and demonstrations informed by the research conducted at the facility.

How does it support UNC System Goals and Metrics?

App State can produce more graduates in the critical workforce areas for North Carolina — identified in the UNC System’s strategic plan as STEM, K-12 education, health sciences, and emerging workforce areas — who are capable of addressing the needs of the world.